LADDventure

Next in May

It's May already, and I can't believe 2014 is almost at the halfway point! My allergies think otherwise, but the desert is just beautiful this time of year, with everything blooming. While it may just now be starting to feel like spring in your neck of the woods, here in Arizona it's basically summer. The days are getting longer and warmer, and we're hanging on tight to every cool breeze or cloudy day.

My theme word for the year is Next, both a reminder to take one thing at a time, and an encouragement to be open to new opportunities and set some goals. Each month, I take time to look ahead at what's next, so here's a peek at May!

Next in travel... We'll be staying home this month, but some great friends are travelling here! We're honored to be hosting two of our favorite couples from Wisconsin for a couple's vacation/bachelor/bachellorette weekend mid-May. The plans are shaping up to include a Friday night out in Scottsdale, a pool party on Saturday and golf/whatever the girls decide to do on Sunday. Really looking forward to it!

Next in writing...The book is with the proofreaders!  Round One of edits and rewrites is complete, and we are in the very final stages of getting the book ready to go.  I truly can't believe it, and am so proud of this book. I'm nailing down an official release date and other details this month, and can't wait to share them with you. Head over to The Candid Teacher and join the email list to stay up to date on book news!

Next in adoption... This is document gathering month. As I talked about in this post, we are gathering up all our important papers and getting things in order to start our classes next month. We're getting more and more excited to meet our kids and be a family of four (well six if you count the dogs, which we totally do).

Next in food... Unfortunately our swimsuit season starts a little earlier here than other parts of the country, so food has consisted of lots of fruits and veggies to get these thighs ready for the light of day. Operation Hot Mom is in full swing. More on this soon, too.

Next in faith... Still thinking on a great many things I'd like to write about here. I've had lots of really interesting conversations lately which have my wheels turning about what I believe and why.  But in the meantime, we are just absolutely loving the friends we've met through our small group at church, and can't believe we've only known them a year and a half. All that matters is God and people. I couldn't agree more with this statement right now.

What big plans do you have for this new month?

The Photo Challenge Next Door - April

Camera settings: aperture-f32, shutter speed 1/40, ISO 100, focal length 44 mm

I took this month's photo on a quick off-road ride in the Jeep. We were on the Montana Mountain Trail in the southeast part of the valley, and it was gorgeous. I just love this time of year in the desert, with the ocotillo and cacti blooming.

My goal with this one was to capture the whole mountain scene in focus, so I opted for a higher f-stop to give me a deeper depth of field. (Look at me, knowing I needed to do that. Progress!) I didn't do any color adjusting, and just love how the colors turned out.

My next door neighbor, Kelsey, and I have a photo challenge going. We're determined to improve our photography skills, so we've set our cameras to manual to see what we can capture and learn along the way. You can view the rest of my challenge photos here, and Kelsey's here. Also check out The Girl Next Door Podcast, where Kelsey and I mix up a cocktail and chat about creativity, marriage, and life in general. A new episode is live today!

The Photo Challenge Next Door - March

Camera settings:  shutter speed 1/40, aperture f/14, ISO 400

I know it's April, but we're still technically in the first week, so it's still acceptable to share March's photo challenge, yes? Truth be told, I haven't really used my camera since last month's challenge, mostly because I had misplaced my charger and extra battery, and the juice was running low until I found it finally.

I'm also just finding myself in a frustrated place with photography.  I'm still not capturing what I want to capture, and when I am, I don't know how I did it or why it worked.  I know if I keep doing it, it will get better, and I'll get better at it, but I don't want to.  I don't want to lug my big camera around and take crappy pictures because I'm forcing myself to learn it, when I could be taking pretty decent pictures with my iPhone 5S camera.  I also struggle between being in the moment with guests or special events and capturing that moment, so I end up only taking pictures of things that have nothing to do with a moment, and are just scenery or still life. 

Maybe that's ok.  Maybe as I get better at taking photos, I can simultaneously capture and be in the moment, because I won't be busy cursing while figuring out the settings on my camera.  When things become more automatic, I won't have to think so hard about it, and can just enjoy the experience and the memory making. 

In the meantime, this picture captures how I feel about two hobbies I am trying desperately to improve in; photography and gardening.  I am finally starting to figure out gardening in the desert, but it is very different than the fertile soil and plant variety of the Midwest.  It looks a lot more like containers and irrigation and heat tolerance.  I'm learning, slowly but surely, and it parallels my photography skills at the moment. 

I realized looking at this picture though, that sometimes things are no less beautiful because of their imperfection, and in fact they hold a special charm of their own sometimes as a result.  I was about to pluck this tattered petunia bloom off of the plant, when I noticed the perfect little bead of water poised on its delicate petal and decided to not only leave it, but to embrace it in a photo. 

You can view all my challenge photos here, and be sure to head over to check out Kelsey's progress next door at Rising*Shining.

Wordless Wednesday - The Great Outdoors

Thankful Thursday - More

I have some major stuff on my heart and mind today.  This morning, I was just mindlessly watering flowers and starting laundry, when a conversation surprised me with messy, complicated feelings of wanting more in certain areas.  As usual, I find the cure for the sometimes painful yearning for something more or something different, is noticing what you have right now.  So today, as I often do on Thursdays, I'm noticing these things and just being thankful for them...

• Mr. Ladd, who I adore, and who is always striving with me to grow closer & stronger
• Red Rover Ale and Rampant I.P.A. on the patio with twinkling tea lights in mason jars
• Mico and Buddy, my quirky little fur babies, who keep me smiling and scolding daily
• Flowers, herbs, and vines overflowing in a pile of color in my backyard
• Watermelon Feta Salad with garden mint and sharp red onion
• New friends, fresh conversations, and next steps
• Summer waiting around the corner with blueberry mojitos and friends poolside
• Trips planned to catch up with Wisconsin in July and Jeep through Colorado in September

Favorite Finds

I have kind of a running list of things that I adore.  It's getting pretty full, so I think it's time to share.  I'm not getting paid to promote any of this, I just am really excited about all of these things.  Here's what I'm loving as of late...

At Target

We have a Super Target close to us.  I do most of our grocery shopping there, which is a great excuse to be at Target at least once a week!  Here's a look in my cart.

Wishbone Light Buffalo Ranch
This dressing is great on salads, but my favorite is just to use it as a dip for celery sticks.  It's like wings without the guilt.

Method Tomato Vine All Purpose Cleaner
This stuff is like a garden in a bottle.  It smells incredible and is great for cleaning the kitchen counters.  Plus it's all natural with no harsh chemicals and the bottle is pretty enough to just leave out on the counter.  It's a seasonal limited addition kind of thing, so hurry!  I've been stocking up like mad.  Today it was on sale for $2.66 and I had a $1 coupon today so get in my cart you glorious summer in a spray bottle!

Threshold Organic Blankets
I bought the one in Clownfish Orange, for the guest bedroom, but I really want to get one of each color.  They are the perfect lightweight cotton alternative to a big comforter here in Arizona, and I love the herringbone texture.

Dreyer's Outshine Fruit Bars in Lemon
These are only 2 points on Weight Watchers, and taste like those lemon chills at fairs/carnivals (or if you're from southeastern Wisconsin, Six Flags Great America or Summerfest).

Revlon ColorStay Foundation
As I get older more mature, I'm realizing I need to use foundation regularly to even out my skin tone and provide a good base.  Before it's always just been maybe a little tinted moisturizer and face powder and good to go.   But, lately I've been using Revlon ColorStay Foundation for combination/oily skin (in Warm Golden now that I have a tan), which has a great matte finish for fully made up days or nights out.  I am still experimenting with BB creams and primers for a less made up look (more on that another time)  because it is definitely a full coverage makeup.  But, it  hides shine, spots and wrinkles all day without feeling too cakey or heavy.  It also photographs really well, as I am the queen of the shiny forehead photo otherwise.  They do make another formula for normal/dry skin which has a bit of a satin finish to it for less greasy folk, but I definitely need the matte.

Revlon ColorStay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain
Ok friends, I tried this on Hollywood Housewife's recommendation the other day.  I am now obsessed - as in I picked up two at Target to try, and had to go to Walgreens later that same day to get 2 more colors obsessed.  I'm usually a lip gloss kind of girl, but sometimes that's just too sticky for me, and often not enough color when you want something kind of bold.  Lipstick seems like too much color sometimes, and I really don't like the texture or way it wears.  This stain is the consistency of a nice moisturizing balm, but with tons of color.  It's also a great way to try bolder colors without looking like a clown. 

On Pinterest

 

Can I just tell you that Pinterest makes me a better person?  No exaggeration.  Now, a lot of my time is wasted on Pinterest, and it can make you feel inadequate if you let it.  But, overall I am far more creative, and life is easier because of Pinterest.
 
Baked Artichoke Chicken
This seems way fancier than it is, but you just throw everything in one pan and stick it in the oven; easy and tasty.

Southwest Quinoa Salad
Absolutely delicious and it is really a filling, hearty, fresh meal.  We had it warm, but it was even better cold the next day.  Perfect for summer!

Confetti Chicken Pasta with Spicy Cream Sauce
I had Mr. Ladd just grill up a few chicken breasts that were marinated in italian dressing and then used half of them for this and half of them for chicken salad the next day.

Breakfast Ham Cups
Everything good about breakfast in convenient, easy to personalize, great to cook for a group little cups.

A Box of Sunshine 
I have now sent out 3 of these boxes of yelow as gifts.  It is so fun to collect all the sunshiny goodies, and it's the perfect gift coming from Arizona to chillier parts of the country.  Such a sweet way to let someone know you are thinking of them.

How about you?  Have you tried any of these?  What are you obsessed with currently? Do share!

Dear Teacher

This time last year I was unwrapping sweet little gifts from my second graders and collecting sweaty fistfuls of flowers in a water bottle vase.  It was Teacher Appreciation Day, and the most meaningful gifts I received were just the ones that let me know that the work I was doing mattered to somebody.  I believe feeling appreciated is really all about feeling seen.  This year, I am removed from the classroom and working on a book about teaching, but I have something to say to teachers everywhere today.

Dear Teacher,

I see you.  I see that you are exhausted, because every single person you come in contact with throughout the day needs something from you. I see you limping toward the finish line of the school year on caffeine and a prayer.  I see you buying those crayons, glue sticks, books, and even paper with your own money.  I see that every August you swear you're not going to spend so much, but each year you can't resist redecorating your classroom to make it home for your students. I see that when the bell rings at 2:35, or 3:05 or 3:50, your day is not even close to done.  I see you keeping 25, 30, even 40 kids alive and well and learning something every day.  I see that those kids are nothing compared to the adults you deal with every day.  I see you documenting, modifying, and analyzing, while motivating, comforting, and counseling.

I see all of these things, and this is what I want you to know:  Know that you have made a difference, even when you feel like all you've made it through is another day.  Know that for some of your students, you are all they have.  Know that sometimes kids don't get what's best for them for reasons out of your control, and that your best within the situation is good enough.  Know that you will never convince everyone of how hard you work, and you don't need to.  Know that a sense of humor and a nap are invaluable.  Know that your health, sanity, and family matter most.  Protect them.  Know that for every upset parent, manipulative politician, or hindering administrator who makes you the problem, there is a grateful community member like me who sees you and appreciates you.

Thank You,
Me

Cottonwood, AZ - A Hidden Gem

We celebrated our 8th anniversary with a weekend getaway to Cottonwood a few weeks ago.  Now, I have to begin this post with a bit of a brag - I have an uncanny knack for finding the best spots for unique experiences on trips.  We try to make it a priority to spend a weekend away every anniversary, so I did some research online, knowing we wanted to try something new and found that this sleepy little mountain town is having a bit of a resurgence of late in Arizona's northern wine country.  This little two block stretch of Old Town Cottonwood had literally everything we needed for a perfect, relaxing, anniversary weekend.

We stayed at the fairly new Tavern Hotel, which was a gorgeous, intimate boutique hotel on an awesome Sip & Stay wine tasting package.  It was an incredible deal, and we could not have been more pleased.

We've discovered that Cottonwood is a great launching point for Sedona, Jerome, etc. because those places tend to be more expensive/touristy.  It's great to spend the day in one of those areas and then come back in the evening.  So after a delicious breakfast across the street from the hotel at the Red Rooster Cafe, we took the short 20 minute drive up to one of our favorite little ghost towns, Jerome, which is quite literally built right into the side of the mountain.

We wandered the winding, crooked sidewalks in and out of quirky little shops.  We bought a few unique souveniers, including an antique Christmas ornament.  It's becoming a tradition to get an ornament on every trip we go on to help make our Christmas tree a yearly memory of our travels.

Then we headed back down toward Cottonwood.

Our hotel package included tastings at 3 wine rooms in Old Town,  so we spent the afternoon tasting wines at The Wine Cellar, and Pillsbury Tasting Room.  Our favorite was Burning Tree Cellars, where every wine we tasted was amazing, and the lovely Katie recommended we come back for a glass of The Poet 100% Pinot Noir after dinner at Nic's.

We followed that suggestion, and another to head to RIOT (Rendezvous In Old Town), a bar down the street afterwards.  It was a wine/craft beer spot that had the feel of a beach bar with the friendliness of a local favorite.  This friend was playing live music, and we were having so much fun we had to buy his CD.  We also discovered this beer, heavenly!  After wine tasting all afternoon and a few of those tasty brews, we giggled the entire walk back to our hotel like we were in college again.

Breakfast the next morning at Crema Cafe was to die for. I could have sat in that courtyard all day, but alas, it was time to head back down the mountain.

 Sometimes everything in the Phoenix valley seems so new and canned.  I love exploring the remains of the Wild Wild West in places like Jerome and Cottonwood.  I love the raw textures and history of the old mining towns and am intrigued by these beautiful buildings that hold over a century worth of stories. 

I would highly recommend Cottonwood for a weekend away.  In fact, I just highly recommend weekends away in general.  They help you reconnect to yourself and each other, in a place free from the distractions of work and home.  It reminds you of why you promised your spouse all your future days when you spend a perfect one exploring a new place together.

Wordless Wednesday - Hang In There!

WAIST Management - Week 15

Current Weight:  176.2

Weight Lost This Week: 1.2 lbs

Total Weight Lost:  10.1 lbs

It's been a few weeks , I know.  Lots has gone on around here, and I've been less than exactly focused on weight loss.  But, I have been focusing on getting lots more exercise than I have in the past.  It seems to be working, because the good news is, since Jan 1st, I have finally reached the first 10 pounds lost mark! Holy buckets it has taken a while, but my first mini goal has finally been achieved.  The really exciting part to me is that I know how much more I can lose if I really ramp up my efforts and focus.

Tank top season is upon us here in the desert, and I'd like to wear them with a bit less bingo wing.  Swimsuit season is just around the corner too.  I have a pool, and people want to come over and swim in it.  I would prefer to host them comfortably, and with a bit less obsessive towel covering up.

We are meeting some friends in Vegas in late June.  I'm sure it will involve pool time, nice dinners, and sexy heels.  So my next mini goal is to be at 160 by that time.  That's an average of 2 pounds a week for the next 8 weeks.  

So that's an update on where I am and where I'm headed.

186 pounds

176 pounds